2002: Pierson, who not only blocks well but is a threat to run and catch the ball effectively, was used mainly as a blocking fullback and on special teams as a senior in 2002. He was nagged by injuries throughout the season, as he missed the Auburn opener after straining his left hamstring in 2002 fall practice and then missed the California game because of a strained Achilles tendon. Overall in 2002 while appearing in 10 games (all but Auburn, California and Oregon), he didn't carry the ball but he caught 6 passes for 56 yards (9.3 avg.). He had 4 catches for 47 yards at Washington State.

2001: As a backup fullback, Pierson missed USC's first 6 games of his 2001 junior season while recuperating from pre-season surgery on a herniated disk in his back. But he made an immediate impact upon his return, catching a 54-yard TD pass at Notre Dame the first time he touched the ball in 2001. He added a 5-yard catch at Arizona, a 2-yard grab against Oregon State and 11 rushing yards on 4 tries (his first carries of 2001) at California. Overall in 2001 while appearing in 5 games (he didn't see any action against UCLA), he had 3 receptions for 61 yards (20.3 avg.) with the TD and 11 yards on 4 carries (2.8 avg.). He also can run out of the tailback spot. He missed some of 2001 spring drills with that herniated disk in his back.

2000: Pierson was the often-employed backup to Charlie Landrigan at fullback as a sophomore in 2000 and proved to be equally adept at blocking, running and catching. He even started the Arizona State game. At times, he ran out of the tailback spot. He also played on special teams. Overall in 2000 while appearing in 11 games, he ran for 133 yards on 31 carries (4.3 avg.) with 1 TD, caught 10 passes for 147 yards (14.7 avg.) with 2 TDs, returned a short kickoff 11 yards and made a tackle. He suffered a left calf strain suffered prior to the Colorado contest and was slowed for that game, then missed the San Jose State contest while recovering.
He had 16 yards on 2 carries and another 28 yards on 2 catches against Penn State. He caught 2 passes for 33 yards (including a 1-yard TD grab) at Oregon State. He had a 22-yard reception at Stanford, then added 2 grabs for 29 yards (including a 19-yard TD) against California. At Arizona State, he started and-despite coming into the game with only 15 rushing yards on 4 carries in his career-had his best-ever outing with 72 yards and a TD (a game-winning 2-yarder in the second overtime) on 16 tries while running out of the tailback and fullback spots (he also caught 2 passes for 29 yards). He then ran for 36 yards on 5 carries (and had a 6-yard catch) against Washington State and added 6 yards on 5 rushes at UCLA.

1999: Pierson was a reserve fullback and special teams player as a redshirt freshman in 1999. Overall in 1999 while appearing in 6 games (Hawaii, Notre Dame, Stanford, California, Arizona State and Washington State), he had 1 carry for minus 1 yard (at California), 2 catches for 16 yards (8.0 avg.)-a 5-yarder at Notre Dame and an 11-yarder at Washington State-and 1 kickoff return for 2 yards (at Washington State). He sprained his left ankle in the Hawaii opener and missed the next 3 games. He then suffered a concussion at Washington State and was sidelined for USC's final 2 contests.

1998: Pierson redshirted as a freshman fullback in 1998, his first year at USC.

HIGH SCHOOL: He rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a 1997 senior at Oxnard (Calif.) High (and he blocked for a 2,000-yard tailback). His 1997 honors included All-CIF Division III first team, Los Angeles Times All-Ventura County MVP, Ventura County Star Ventura County MVP and All-Channel League Offensive MVP.
He ran for 721 yards on 90 carries (8.0 avg.) with 7 TDs as a 1996 junior. Current Trojans Jacob Rogers and Bobby Otani also attended Oxnard.
He also starred in baseball at Oxnard, hitting over .400 as an outfielder.

PERSONAL: He's majoring in public policy and management at USC. He was born in Cheyenne, Wyo. His sports hero is NFL star Mike Alstott.

CHAD PIERSON ON: Playing football as a youngster: "My first year of football, when I was 8, after the season I went to my dad and I said that I didn't want to play this game again. I just didn't like it. I preferred to play soccer. But my dad told me that I had to play. He told me that this is what I was going to be able to do. I'm just really glad now that my dad made me stick with football."
His football idol, Mike Alstott: "He does both of the things that I would like to do, play fullback and maybe become a running threat at tailback. I just try to do the things that he can do and build myself to look the way he looks."